Processing of textile fabrics



Aug. 17, 1954 Filed April 9, 1949 R. HAYES ETAL PROCESSING OF TEXTILE FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS REGINALD HAYES. WIL L\AM J. GOLDBERG ATTORNEYS g- 17, 1954 R. HAYES ETAL PROCESSING OF TEXTILE FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1949 m A. a 5 Man. Y mYL E NAO N E 0 R V J O WWM W mm 7 A u v. mm B Aug. 17, 1954 R. HAYES ETAL 2,586,347

PROCESSING OF TEXTILE FABRICS Filed April 9, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet a IN V EN TORS REGINALD HAYES. W'LLIAM J. GOLDBERG ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1954 PROCESSING OF TEXTILE FABRICS Reginald Hayes and William Jacob Goldberg,

Petersburg, Va., assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application April 9, 1949, Serial No. 86,554

Claims.

This invention relates to textiles, and relates more particularly to the processing of textile fabrics.

In the dyeing of textile fabrics, especially warp knit fabrics, it is customary to form the fabrics into a tube preparatory to the dyeing operation by folding the same longitudinally and sewing or tacking the free edges thereof together with a chain stitch. If, after the dyeing operation is complete, it is desired to finish the wet textile fabrics in fiat, open form, as on a tenter, the textile fabrics must have the major portion of the liquid removed therefrom and they must be opened before they are delivered to the tenter frame. It has been the general practice to effect the removal of the liquid from the textile fabrics, while still in tubular form by means of centrifugal extractors operated on a batch basis, following which the textile fabrics are detacked and opened manually. As will be readily apparent, this meth- 0d of preparing wet textile fabrics in tubular form for finishing in flat form involves a considerable amount of time, labor, equipment and floor space, and the possibility is ever present that the textile fabrics will be damaged by the additional handling they receive.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a process and apparatus for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked to form a tube, for finishing in flat, open form,

which will be free from the foregoing and other disadvantages of the prior processes and apparatus, and which will be especially efficient in operation and simple in construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a process and apparatus for continuously processing wet textile fabrics having their free edges tacked to form a tube whereby they are prepared for finishing in flat, open form.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

In accordance with our invention textile fabrics, which are in tubular form with the tacking at one edge thereof and wet with an aqueous liquid from a previous operation, are passed in flattened form over a vacuum extractor tube to reduce their liquid content to less than about 80% by weight. This lower liquid content in the textile fabrics permits of ease in handling and opening, which is not the case with textile fabrics having a higher liquid content. However, since the textile fabrics are passed over the vacuum extractor tube in a double thickness, the removal of liquid at this point in the process it not sufficiently complete to prepare the textile fabrics for a fiat finishing operation such as tentering. The textile fabrics after passing over the vacuum extractor tube are dropped onto the feed end of a scray on which the textile fabrics accumulate in folds and thereby compensate for any irregularities in the feed thereof. From the scray, the textile fabrics are caused to turn at right angles to place the tacked edge on the under side and are then drawn over an opening frame. This opening frame spreads the textile fabrics to their full open width and simultaneously, the tacking thread is removed from the textile fabrics by means of any suitable detacking machine. The openend textile fabrics are then drawn over another vacuum extractor tube which reduces their liquid content to less than about by weight. The textile fabrics containing this quantity of water may be advantageously subjected to a flat finishing operation, such as tentering. After passing over the second vacuum extractor tube, the textile fabrics are dro ped onto a second scray from which they are fed continuously to a finishing apparatus, such as a tenter frame. The textile fabrics are guided through the apparatus of this invention by means of a plurality of rollers, at least some of which are positively driven. In addition, the textile fabrics pass over rectifiers, comprising guides that are skewed with respect to the direction in which the textile fabrics move to eliminate creases and folds therefrom.

If the textile fabrics have not been treated with a finishing solution during the dyeing operation, they may have a finishing solution applied thereto before they are passed over the first vacuum extractor tube. In addition, the textile fabrics may be passed between squeeze rolls both before and after the finishing solution is applied thereto to remove a portion of the liquid and any excess of finishing solution therefrom. Any desired finishing solution, of which there are many commercially available, may be applied in this manner.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the feed end of the apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the discharge end of the apparatus,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale,

3 showing the construction of the vacuum extractor tube.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral II designates a textile fabric, which has its free edges tacked to form a tube. The textile fabric I I is drawn Wet and with its tacked edge at one side thereof from a basket I2 over a roller I3 and through a processor indicated generally by reference numeral I4, which comprises rollers I5, I6 and I1 immersed in a finishing solution contained in a tank I8. In the processor I4, the textile fabrics II passes through the finishing solution and also has a portion of the liquid and any excess of finishing solution removed therefrom by the squeezing action of the rollers I5, I6 and I1, which bear one against the other.

From the processor I4, the textile fabric II is guided by means of rollers I9, 2| and 22 to a vacuum extractor tube, indicated generally by reference numeral 23, which reduces the liquid content of the textile fabric to less than about 80 by weight. The vacuum extractor tube 23 comprises a tube 24 having a slot 25 therein over which the textile fabric II is drawn. When the pressure within the tube 24 is reduced below atmospheric, in any suitable manner, a current of air will flow into said tube through the textile fabric II carrying with it a portion of the liquid present in said fabric. Following its passage over the vacuum extractor tube 23, the textile fabric II is guided by means of a roller 26 onto a positively driven roller 27, from which it drops onto a scray 28, comprising a curved plate 29 supported on a framework 3i. A sufficient quantity of the textile fabric II is accumulated on the scray 28 topermit of continuous operation despite any irregularities in the feed of said fabric.

The textile fabric If is then turned at right angles to place its tacked edge 32 at the under side and the tacking thread 33 is removed by means of a detacking machine, indicated generally by reference numeral 34. The detacking machine 34 comprises a housing 35 supporting a pair of positively driven rollers 36 between which the thread 33 is engaged. Thereafter, the textile fabric II is passed over an opening frame, indicated generally by reference numeral 3'1, which comprises a bar 38 supported on a framework 39 and having a curved portion 4| presented to said fabric. The opening frame 31 spreads the textile fabric II to its full, open width, following which said fabric is passed through a rectifier, indicated generally by reference numeral 42, to remove any creases and folds therefrom. The rectifier 42 comprises a framework 43, on which are mounted guide bars 44, 45 and 46 that are bent at the center and are each half skewed with respect to the direction in which the textile fabric I I moves, so that the textile fabric first contacts said guides at its edges and is stretched across its width in travelling over said guides.

With all creases and folds removed therefrom by the rectifier 42, the textile fabric II is drawn over a vacuum extractor tube indicated generally by reference numeral 41, which is identical in structure with the vacuum extractor tube 23. As the textile fabric II passes over the vacuum extractor tube 41 more of the liquid is removed therefrom, reducing its moisture content to the proper value for a flat finishing operation, such as tentering. The textile fabric II then passes between a positively driven roller 48, and an idler 49, which drop said fabric onto a second scray, indicated generally by reference numeral The scray 5|, like the scray 28, comprises a framework 4 52 on which is mounted a curved plate 53 down which the textile fabric I I slides. From the scray 5|, the textile fabric II is drawn over rollers 54 and 55 to a rectifier, indicated generally by reference numeral 56, which removes any creases and folds from said fabric. Like the rectifier 42, the rectifier 56 comprises a framework 5'! supporting guide bars 53, 59 and SI that are bent at the center and are each half skewed with respect to the direction in which the textile fabric II moves. The textile fabric II is then guided by rollers 62, G3 and E4 to a positively driven roller 65 which delivers said fabric to a fiat finishing apparatus, such as a tenter frame (not shown).

Since the apparatus of this invention operates in a continuous fashion, the time, labor, equipment and floor space required for the treatment of textile fabrics therewith is materially reduced as compared with the apparatus hitherto employed for this purpose. In addition, the danger of damaging the fabrics during the treatment is lessened because the fabric need only be handled once instead of a plurality of times.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked together to form a tube, for finishing in flat open form comprising, in combination, means for removing a portion of the liquid from the textile fabrics in flattened tubular form, means for opening the textile fabrics from the tubular to a substantially smooth, fiat form, means for removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, means for removing another portion of the liquid from the textile fabrics in smooth fiat open form, and means for continuously forwarding the textile fabrics through said apparatus.

2. Apparatus for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked together to form a tube, for finishing in flat open form comprising, in combination, a vacuum extractor tube for removing a portion of the liquid from the textile fabrics in flattened tubular form, an opening frame for opening the textile fabrics from the tubular to a substantially smooth, fiat form, means for removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, a vacuum extractor tube for removing another portion of the liquid from the textile fabrics in smooth, fiat open form, and means for continuously forwarding the textile fabrics through said apparatus.

3. Apparatus for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked together to form a tube, for finishing in flat open form comprising, in combination, a vacuum extractor tube for removing liquid from the textile fabrics in flattened tubular form, a scray for accumulating the textile fabrics in tubular form, an opening frame for opening the textile fabrics from the tubular to a substantially smooth, fiat form, means for removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, a vacuum extractor tube for removing liquid from the textile fabrics in smooth, fiat open form, and means for continuously forwarding the textile fabrics through said apparatus.

4. In a process for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked-together to form a tube, for finishing in fiat open form, the steps which comprise, moving the textile fabrics, re-

moving a portion of the liquid from the tubular textile fabrics, opening the tubular textile fabrics to a substantially smooth, flat form, removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, and removing another portion of the liquid from the textile fabrics in smooth, fiat open form concurrently with the movement thereof.

5. In a process for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked together to form a tube, for finishing in flat open form, the steps which comprise, moving the textile fabrics, passing a stream of air through the textile fabrics in flattened tubular form to remove a portion of the liquid therefrom, opening the tubular textile fabrics to a substantially smooth, flat form, removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, and passing a stream of air through the textile fabrics in smooth, flat open form to remove another portion of the liquid therefrom concurrently with the movement thereof.

6. In a process for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked together to form a tube, for finishing in flat open form, the steps which comprise, moving the textile fabrics, passing a stream of air through the textile fabrics in flaattened tubular form and with the tacked edge at one side thereof to remove liquid therefrom, turning the textile fabrics through a right angle to bring the tacked edge to the underside thereof, opening the tubular textile fabrics to a substantially smooth, flat form, and removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, concurrently with the movement thereof.

'7. In a process for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked together to form a tube, for finishing in flat open form, the steps which comprise, moving the textile fabrics, passing a stream of air through the tubular textile fabrics with the tacked edge at one side thereof to remove liquid therefrom, turning the textile fabrics through a right angle to bring the tacked edge to the underside thereof, opening the tubular textile fabrics to a substantially smooth, flat form, removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, and passing a stream of air through the textile fabrics in smooth, fiat open form to remove liquid therefrom concurrently with the movement thereof.

8. In a process for preparing wet textile fabrics having their free edges tacked together to form a tube for finishing in flat open form, the steps which comprise, moving the textile fabrics, removing liquid from the tubular textile fabrics to reduce their liquid content to less than about 80% by weight, opening the tubular textile fabrics to a substantially smooth, fiat form, removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, and removing liquid from the textile fabrics in smooth, fiat open form to reduce their liquid content to less than about by Weight concurrently with the movement thereof.

9. Apparatus for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked together to form a tube and having their tacked edges at one side thereof, for finishing in fiat open form comprising, in combination, means for removing liquid from the textile fabrics in flattened tubular form, means disposed at right angles to said liquid removing means for opening the textile fabrics from the tubular to a substantially smooth, flat form, the construction and arrangement of said opening means being such that the tacked edges are brought to the underside of the textile fabrics in passing from the liquid removing means to the opening means, means for removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, and means for continuously forwarding the textile fabrics through said apparatus.

10. Apparatus for preparing wet textile fabrics, having their free edges tacked together to form a tube and having their tacked edges at one side thereof, for finishing in fiat open form comprising, in combination, means for removing liquid from the textile fabrics in flattened tubular form, means disposed at right angles to said liquid removing means for opening the textile fabrics from the tubular to a substantially smooth, flat form, the construction and arrangement of said opening means being such that the tacked edges are brought to the underside of the textile fabrics in passing from the liquid removing means to the opening means, for removing the tacking thread from said textile fabrics, means for removing liquid from the textile fabric in smooth, flat open form, and means for continuously forwarding the textile fabrics through said apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,805,866 Birch May 19, 1931 2,109,469 Cohn et a1. Mar. 1, 1938 2,251,127 Gessner July 29, 1941 2,333,613 Andreotto Nov. 2, 1943 2,410,146 Birch Oct. 29, 1946 

